Jason Knight, MD, Selected to Serve American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Jason Knight, MD, with Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute, has been selected to serve on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Excellence Committee for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, District VII. This committee represents Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mexico, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
“I’m grateful to have the opportunity,” said Knight. “The success of an organization depends on every team member having access to this same sense of belonging. This is where diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) plays a significant role.”
Knight’s passion for DEI stems from a single question: What is the most important part of my work experience?
“For me, my sense of belonging is the single most important sustaining element of my work experience,” said Knight. “It is a sense of belonging that enables me to consistently do my best work.”
A sense of belonging is important, according to Knight, because it provides team members with access to three pillars of work satisfaction:
- Feeling valued
- Feeling that my contributions to the organization are appreciated
- Enjoying a sense of safety
“In an environment like that, where I have all three of those, I am empowered to grow and can contribute in dynamic ways to our culture,” said Knight. “The ingredients needed to create belonging are unique to each person and their lived experience. Therefore, an organization’s success in fostering a sense of belonging depends on its member’s ability to identify what those ingredients are and make sure that they are abundantly available.”
The best part of DEI, says Knight, is that we all can participate in creating an environment that is affirming.
“Getting to know the people we work with is an easy way to accomplish this,” said Knight. “My hope in contributing to the DEI space is that I will help facilitate conversations that allow us to know one another better and create experiences that are affirming.”
Knight’s term on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Excellence Committee will run through 2024.